First Language Acquisition: The Essential Readings is a collection of classic works that provide the foundation for current research in the field of first language acquisition. These selections not only provide a historical perspective; their insights continue to be central to the endeavor of understanding children's acquisition of language.
Chiefly linguistic in emphasis and approach, these pioneering classics are selected and organized to provide a framework for understanding current work in each of the basic areas of language acquisition: morphology, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Authors include such luminaries as Noam Chomsky, Jean Piaget, Eric Lenneberg, and Roman Jakobson, as well as others who contributed groundbreaking discoveries, insights, concepts, and methods to the field. First Language Acquisition is a vital resource for students and scholars of language acquisition, cognitive development, and cognitive science.